At Hope Church, we believe that worship is a lifestyle – it is something we are called to do not only on Sundays, but also throughout the week at work, at home, wherever we are (Romans 12:1&2). However, on Sunday mornings our congregation comes together from many different directions to lift our voices in song and prayer, to bear one another’s burdens, and to be built up through the ministry of the Word of God. We believe that the use of many musical languages can help us express our love for the Lord. Through dynamic congregational hymnsinging with piano and organ, with weekly anthems from our 30-voice sanctuary choir, led by a worship team accompanied by guitars, bass, drums, keyboard, flute, and viola, with special musical selections by soloists, duets, and trios – in all these ways and with a variety of musical styles we enjoy praising the Lord with enthusiasm and joy.

The worship team is by invitation and presently includes Lance Gallup and Nick Winnard on guitars and vocals, Steve Ross on bass, Carlos Merle on drums, Michelle Perkins on flute and vocals, Jorja Bagnera on viola, and Pastor Wes on piano, keyboards, and vocals. Several others step in to help when regular worship team members are away.

The team rehearses each Sunday at 9:30AM before the morning worship service.

We are blessed to have two fine organists: Barbara Burtt (our regular organist) and Joyce Collins (our assistant organist). Carol Burtt arranges for a rotating schedule of pianists to accompany the hymns on Sunday mornings including Joyce Collins, Brent Chadwick, Michelle Perkins, and herself. We are always looking for others to help in this area. If this is something you would enjoy doing, please see Carol Burtt or Pastor Wes.

Each week a variety of singers prepare special music to present at the Sunday morning worship service. This schedule is prepared by Pastor Wes and he tries to involve as many singers as possible. Many children and youth are scheduled to either sing or play for the offertory.

At various times throughout the year Hope Church hosts concerts of sacred music and other music-related programs. Often Christian college choirs bring their students to Hope and for the last several years we have proudly hosted a June concert by the New England Brass Band. In addition, we have been blessed to have many well-known sacred guest artists in concert at Hope Church including Dick Anthony, Ken Medema, Frank Boggs, Chuck Ohman, Christine Wyrtzen, Doug Yeo, Ken Fernald, and others. Bill Dagle has come several times to present evenings of hymnstories – relating the background stories behind familiar hymns.

Several times each year, Pastor Wes leads an evening of music and scripture readings called Evensong featuring our own worship team with other guests. Two very special annual programs are the Maundy Thursday Service and the Christmas Eve Service of Carols and Candles. From time to time our youth and children present evenings of music and each December features a Carol Sing at the beginning of Advent and also the annual Sanctuary Choir Christmas program.